M A Y - J U L Y

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1 F I S H E R S O F M E N I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T P H O T O G A L L E R Y G U A D A L A - J A R A : A F A M I L Y A F F A I R L O C A L E M M C S T A T I S T I C S W O R K T E A M B L E S S I N G S N E W S N U G G E T S S T A F F U P D A T E C O N T A C T I N F O Prayer Requests Guidance in decisions regarding Daniel s medical care Wisdom in upcoming campaign to get 220 power at Refuge Ranch M A Y - J U L Y A U G U S T 1 0, S E E K I N G A C O N S T A N T O B E D I E N C E If I had to choose a theme for these last few months, it would be that of seeking to live in constant, consistent obedience and then trusting the results of that obedience to the Lord. Those results, many times, are seen long-term: not today, not tomorrow, not next week and, sometimes, not until eternity. When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, he simply said: Follow me. He did not give them a plan, explain what that obedience would mean or give them any indications that they would be successful. Most of us would likely agree that we admire those first group of followers of Christ, but, of the original 12 disciples, one betrayed Christ and seven were martyred. That is not what I would call a picture of success! Contemplating their lives a bit more, maybe they truly were successful successful at being obedient to their Lord, Savior and best friend Jesus Christ; successful at imitating the Son of God many died deaths similar to His; successful at fulfilling His plan for their lives to faithfully seek to be more like Him, serve Him and proclaim the Good News of salvation found only through the Lamb of God Jesus Christ! So, success doesn t mean checking each item off my to do list at the end of the day? That sure is good news, since I never get everything checked off that list! V O L U M E 8, I S S U E 3 If we realize that moment-bymoment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious. Oswald Chambers But, thinking things through, sometimes it would be easier to measure success by a list of items to do, rather than by the person that I should be! Then, again, what a relief to know that God is my loving, merciful, graceful Heavenly Father who loves me to holiness, inspires me to want to be like Him and is even the One to empower me to do so! Wow, He is just too good! So, let s seek true success by seeking to live in lovemotivated obedience moment-to-moment, trusting the results to the Creator of the Universe, and falling into His inspirational arms of mercy when we fall.

2 MAY-JULY 2010 Page 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT: To fellow supporters of Fishers Of Men Ministries: From July 10-17, my wife Corrine, two of our sons Andrew and Jonathan, and I had the opportunity to visit Refuge Ranch as part of the team from Mayfair Plymouth Church, McCord Road Christian Church, and Community Bible Church. What an incredible week! We had a great time getting to know the other members of the team including Pastor Dave & Diann, Tom & Joan, Alan & Tracy, Jim & Andie, John & Kayla, Brighton, Zak, Ben, Jon, Sandy, Pam, Morgan, Jacob, Katie, and Grace. It was a real treat to visit with the Marshalls Mark, Lucy, Aaron and Joanna who have responded to God's call to leave behind their life in the US and commit to minister as part of Fishers Of Men BY: MARK SATTLER (PRESIDENT FOM BOARD OF DIRECTORS) for several years. I was absolutely awestruck by the work that Victor, Julie, and the rest of the Refuge Ranch team are doing with the help of God. Each of us connected with some of the children at Refuge Ranch. While every one of us helped make progress on the various tasks that needed to be done (sorting and organizing school books and clothing, waterproofing the roof, painting and tiling the new rooms) we were all forever changed by the children who welcomed us into their home for a brief week and touched our hearts. I would like to leave you with a closing thought. Try to imagine the emotions that an abandoned child may feel such as fear, hopelessness or anger. But at Refuge Ranch, that all changes. Fear is replaced with confidence in the power of God. Hopelessness is replaced by the hope of a new and different life a life that offers the opportunity to serve God by helping others, whether with daily chores, teaching Vacation Bible School, or preparing for a career in medicine. Anger is replaced with trust, affection, and love for others. The terrifying knowledge that you have been abandoned is replaced with the knowledge that you belong to a large and wonderful family, whose parents are Victor and Julie Zaragoza and which is headed up by God, our Heavenly Father. If you have not gone on a mission trip to Refuge Ranch, I urge you to consider it. We are already looking forward to our next visit. Mark Sattler

3 M A Y - J U L Y Page 3 G U A D A L A J A R A : A F A M I L Y A F F A I R Once a year our family, the Zaragoza family, enjoys joining Victor on an Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusade. Participating on an EMMC gives the kids the of the EMMC, Pastor Jorge has quit his secular job and is now dedicated to the ministry full-time in order to care for all the new Christians! Praise God! lic church at catechism! Then I felt convicted and very motivated to share the Truth and Love of Jesus Christ that would give them true freedom, salvation for opportunity to be reminded now and eternity and a reason to live! Well, the kids The second EMMC location was several hours out- of what their Dad is doing each time he leaves home showed up after catechism side of Guadalajara in a rural on an EMMC; the chance to asking: When are we going community full of horseback experience mission work to learn about María (the riders and cowboy hats! This firsthand; and, finally, provides them with opportuni- learned about the virgin Virgin Mary)? So, we community was very entrenched in their traditional ties to discover and use Mary and how, in the Bible, Catholic religion. I was in their gifts and talents for the she told others to follow charge of the children s ministry and had been holding a furthering of God s kingdom. Jesus and do what He told them to do. We planted lots The EMMC this time took kids club twice a day. Well, of seeds; we were obedient us to two communities in on Saturday morning nobody to the call to plant; others the area surrounding Guadalajara, in the state of Jal- it, but I was almost relieved showed up! I hate to admit will be obedient to water those seeds; what happens isco. The first community because the conditions as a result of our obedience was located on the outskirts proved quite a challenge: I is up to the Lord! of the city and was comprised worked under a tarp rigged of a huge housing complex with hundreds upon hundreds of singledwelling, lower-middle class homes. The dynamics were similar to the inner-city areas of U.S. cities overgrown lawns, broken windows, abandoned homes and vehicles, graffiti, single-mothers, drunk men on the street corners and wayward youth. Pastor Jorge and his wife, Lupita, moved to the area several years ago with the express purpose of starting a church. As a direct result up over the dirt road between two buildings. The afternoon wind whipped the dirt around us, which readily mixed with the sweat rolling down our foreheads, arms, and legs. I had mostly older kids (10-14 years old) and they were quite disrespectful and rowdy. However, the Lord gently reprimanded me and reminded me that these kids were His precious creations whom He deeply desired become His children. I soon overheard that all the kids were at the local Catho- C R U S A D E S T A T I S T I C S G U A D A L A J A R A A T T E N D E D T O A C C E P T E D I T Z C A L L I, S T A T E O F M E X I C O A T T E N D E D T O 5 6 A C C E P T E D C H I M A L H U A C A N, S T A T E O F M E X I C O 6 0 A T T E N D E D T O 3 0 A C C E P T E D C H A L C O, S T A T E O F M E X I C O A T T E N D E D T O 4 4 A C C E P T E D C H I L D R E N I N A T T E N D A N C E

4 V O L U M E 8, I S S U E 3 Page 4 W O R K T E A M B L E S S I N G S This summer those of us who live at Refuge Ranch received spiritual, physical and emotional blessings from three work teams who visited, loved and worked! Each team was as unique as its members: from housewives to plant managers, from retirees to high school students, from school principles to propane gas truck drivers, from Ohio to Iowa with Indiana in between! The Body of Christ is truly beautiful.because YOU are a part of it! The first group, from Shiloh Christian Church, brought lots of fond memories, renewed friendships and made new memories. For some of the members of the team, this was their fifth time at Refuge Ranch! Due to their consistency, the kids really look forward to Shiloh work teams because they have built relationships with several of the members that have truly impacted their lives. The second team, also from Shiloh Christian Church and other Logansport, IN residents dear to the Marshall family, proved special to us because it was many of the members first visit to Refuge Ranch. It is always a joy to watch them experience all that God is doing here for the first time! Our favorite part is when they first get out of the van at Refuge Ranch and spend about 15 minutes meeting everyone and walking around. Many then kind of stop and say: Ohhhhhh, so this is all what it s all about! As many blog entries and newsletters that they had read, could not accurately explain what they were now experiencing in person. (So, hint, hint, if you are reading this newsletter and haven t come to Refuge Ranch pray about the possibility of coming sometime so that you can say Ohhhhh! too!) The third group came mainly from my (Julie s) home church: Mayfair Plymouth Congregational Christian Church, Toledo, OH. There is nothing quite like ministering alongside people who have known you since elementary school or alongside teenagers whose diapers yiou changed! (In respect of their privacy, I won t say Some of the Work Accomplished: Poured concrete floors in new school building and warehouse Waterproofed basement roof Waterproofed outside of basement back wall Built and installed drainage pipe for behind basement Painted entire outside of basement Painted schoolrooms and warehouse Installed drywall doorway between schoolroom and warehouse Poured ramp into warehouse Began tiling and grouting schoolroom floor Sorted clothing and school books and supplies Updated financial records Weeded the garden who that was!) It was so special for me to have my home church represented by such great members on the work team! It felt a little bit like being back home. (I am never real clear on where home is! I have decided that Heaven is truly Home and I can t wait to be there, but not until my King says I have finished my marching orders here!) The third group had several other special members on the team! Mark Sattler, his wife and two of their sons, all members at McCord Rd. Christian Church, Toledo, OH formed part of the team. This was especially exciting because Mark is doing an excellent job as President of the Board of Directors for Fishers of Men Ministries, Inc. He has participated on an EMMC previously, so it was great to share with him Refuge Ranch, the other side of Fishers of Men! Finally, Tom and Joan Strauss, Julie s uncle and aunt, from Community Bible Church, Strawberry Point, IA formed part of the team. It is always a special blessing to have blood relatives who are also brothers and sisters in Christ with whom you can serve the Lord! Thank to all you came and invested in the Lord s work in Mexico!

5 MAY-JULY 2010 Page 5 C Mark Marshall did an excellent job of planning the layout of the garden and preparing beautiful raised beds. Victor and the kids enjoyed helping with the planting and the rest of us will enjoy eating! What a blessing to share Refuge Ranch and our family with more of my (Julie s) relatives. Uncle Tom and Aunt Joan, from Strawberry Point, IA, enjoyed their second trip to Refuge Ranch as they joined the work team from Toledo, OH. They then stayed an additional week and were joined by Aunt Sher and Cousin Kara from San Antonio, Texas. We enjoyed several days in the state of Michoacan staying at a water park with a hotel there, which also gave us the opportunity to visit a nearby town famous for its woodworking and purchase some wooden furniture and educational items for our remodeled homeschool. Aunt Joan and Aunt Sher are both music teachers, so Aunt Joan taught a fun piano workshop and Aunt Sher did a great introductory course with recorders, which they kids are anxious to continue as part of our curriculum. I cannot express how wonderful it is to have family who love the Lord and are anxious to serve Him and are even willing to serve Him in Mexico! We traded in one of our young steers and welcomed Soñadora (Dreamer), a Palomine Quarter Horse, to Refuge Ranch in early July. She is a very calm horse whom the kids love to ride. Joanna Marshall has been a HUGE blessing in caring for and training Soñadora and helping all of us learn to ride. Having Soñadora is truly a dream come true! C In mid-june we received a lead about four young girls in the state of Michoacan in need of a family. Within 24 hours, we were on the road to pick them up! After meeting three of the four girls and starting to love them already, their father s extended family, who had never looked after the girls, began to meddle and prevented the girls from coming with us. We trust in the Lord s sovereignty, even when we can t understand His ways. Join us in praying for Diana Karen, Blanca, Ana Laura, and Liz. Our friend Irma blessed us, once again, with a visit to Refuge Ranch, complete with her friend, Norma, who does professional Christian clowning and keeps us all in stitches! We are always blessed by the abundance of non-perishable items that Irma brings with her! Then, several weeks later, our family had the honor of leading worship at a service to dedicate a book written by Irma! From July our church here in Mexico held VBS Cowboy Ranch! The kids are still singing the songs! Angie was the lead preschool teacher, Martita served as teacher s assistant in the 9-11 year old classroom, while Magda helped out in the kitchen. There is such a deep sense of satisfaction and gratitude in watching the girls serve the Lord!

6 F I S H E R S O F M E N In the U.S.: P.O. Box Toledo, OH (734) In Mexico: Prolongación Niño Perdido #7 Cuecuecuautitla, Edo. de México C.P To call from the U.S. dial: The Lord has blessed us greatly with an incredible staff and we ask you to keep them continually in your prayers as they carry out their various tasks. Full-time staff: Mark and Lucy Marshall (children: Aaron and Joanna): general construction & maintenance, automotive maintenance, teaching in school, gardening, official cookie baker! We re on the web! fishersofmenmexico.org fishersofmenmexico.blogspot.com fishersofmenmexico@gmail.com F I S H E R S O F M E N S T A F F Magda (daughter: Erika): laundry, errands, chauffer Rosa: cook Cirino (children: Bernabe and Berenice): construction and farmhand Vero: school and secretarial, helps care for children when Victor and I need to Fishers of Men is an organization of evangelical Christians whose mission is to glorify God by meeting the basic needs of our neighbor while seeking the integral transformation of that person. This mission is carried out through three different facets of ministry: Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades, Refuge Ranch and Yahweh Rapha Medical Center. Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades (EMMC) are weeklong crusades, complete with doctors, dentists, hair stylists, children s workers, cooks and general volunteers that seek to meet the physical needs present in poverty-stricken regions throughout Mexico in order to more effectively address the spiritual needs of the people. The Good News of Jesus Christ is shared individually with each person that attends the crusade. Fishers of Men works closely with local churches and missionaries to ensure the follow-up and discipleship of the new believers. Refuge Ranch is an adoptive home, headed by Victor and Julie, for abandoned children. As part of a loving Christian family, the children find the love, nurture, freedom and structure necessary to become all that God wants them to be. Yahweh Rapha Medical Center is a Christian hospital and medical mission school that will be located on a 22 acre campus just southeast of Mexico City. Here quality medical care will be given to those most in need. The patients will find physical and spiritual healing through Jesus Christ as expressed through the loving and knowledgeable care of the staff. Medical students will receive both medical and theological training as they prepare to serve the Lord in satellite clinics throughout Mexico and in other mission venues throughout the world. be away As-needed staff: Becky: translation Jhon and Daniela (daughter : Mia): crusade preparation, pharmacy manager, construction help Adrian: general crusade preparation, technical assistance It is a joy to watch this team work together and see how the Lord has gifted each one of them and brought them to Fishers of Men with a brilliant purpose in mind! F I S H E R S O F M E N B O A R D M E M B E R S P R E S I D E N T Mark Sattler S E C R E T A R Y Lorraine Kenter T R E A S U R E R Martha Nowak M E M B E R S - A T - L A R G E Joe Ballmer Dave Pratt Emy Bridge Teresa Moore